Heat shock protein and high-dose aspirin: effects on random skin flap survival in a rat model.

The heat shock response is known to have a protective effect against flap ischemia. It has been shown that heat shock protein (hsp) expression can be augmented in vivo with the administration of high-dose aspirin before heat treatment. The authors hypothesized that administration of aspirin before hsp induction through heat stress would enhance further the protective effects of the heat shock response against skin flap ischemia. They used a random dorsal skin flap model in 32 rats divided into four groups (N = 8 each): control, heat shock, aspirin plus heat shock, and aspirin. Before surgery, rats in the two heat shock groups were placed in a 45 degrees C water bath until core body temperature measured 42 degrees C, and they were maintained at 42 degrees C for 15 minutes. Rats in the two aspirin groups received a single oral dose of aspirin (100 mg per kilogram) 1 hour before heat bath or surgery. Immunohistochemistry confirmed hsp expression in the two heat groups. Skin flap survival was improved significantly (p < 0.05) in the heat shock (55%), aspirin plus heat shock (58%), and aspirin (60%) groups when compared with controls (45%). Contrary to their hypothesis, aspirin combined with hsp induction did not offer greater protection from ischemia than hsp induction alone (p > 0.05). However, high-dose aspirin administration alone did improve skin flap survival when compared with controls. Future studies are needed to investigate further the role of pharmacological therapy combined with hsp induction in improving skin flap survival and to delineate the dose-response relationship between aspirin and hsp.     

Correlation between Karnofsky Performance Status Scale and Short-Form Health Survey in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: Assessment of quality of life is vital inmonitoring response to various treatment measures. Various instruments, which include both generic and disease-specific instruments, are used in the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In this study, we compare two commonly used generic instruments. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare two generic instruments, the Karnofsky Performance Status Scale and the SF-36 Health Survey in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The study also aims to find out the association (if any) between HRQOL scores using these two scales and various clinical and biochemical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two maintenance HD patients were recruited after informed consents were obtained. Detailed sociodemographic data was obtained. They were assessed during their regular HD sessions. Serum chemistry (which included serum urea, creatinine, Na+, K+, HCO3-, Ca2+, Po4(2-)), albumin, globulin, total protein and hemoglobin (g/dl) were assessed in all the patients. Adequacy of HD was assessed using second-generation Daugirdais formula. HRQOL was assessed using the Karnofsky and SSF-36 instruments and the scores collated and compared. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 10. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients completed the study (27 males and 28 females, mean age 40.76 +/- 11.05 years and age range of 20-65 years). There was a significant positive correlation between Karnofsky scores and all eight SF-36 domains, but only physical functioning, social functioning and role limitation due to emotional problems maintained the significance on multiple regression analysis. The serum creatinine and hemoglobin postively correlated with physical function, bodily pain, social functioning and Karnofsky scores. Age of the patients correlated negatively with two SF-36 dimensions (physical functioning and role limitation due to physical fitness) and Karnofsky scores. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a good correlation between Karnofsky performance status scale and the short-form (SF36) health survey in this Egyptian population. Age, serum creatinine and hemoglobin significantly influence quality of life in this HD patient population.     

The Hawaii family study of cognition: A reply

Differences in age and number of children tested per family between two ethnic groups (Americans of Japanese ancestry and Americans of European ancestry) have a trivial effect on differences in regressions of midchild on midparent for tests of specific cognitive abilities. Although the regression of offspring on midparent value is not a mathematical function of the spouse correlation, an empirical association between these two measures of familial resemblance is expected for characters with nonzero heritability. Such an association is reported for anthropometric characters. Since age effects contribute to the covariance of family members, age correction of family cognitive data is essential.The results reported here are made possible by collaboration of a group of investigators (G. C. Ashton, R. C. Johnson, M. P. Mi, and M. N. Rashad at the University of Hawaii, and J. C. DeFries, G. E. McClearn, S. G. Vandenberg, and J. R. Wilson at the University of Colorado) supported by NSF Grant GB-34720 and Grant HD-06669 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Laser in situ keratomileusis for myopic anisometropia in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual and refractive results of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in pediatric patients with myopic anisometropia and amblyopia, and to assess the predictability, safety, and efficacy of the procedure in children. METHODS: Fourteen patients aged 7 to 12 years with myopic anisometropia and amblyopia had LASIK in the more myopic eye (14 eyes) using the Chiron Automatic Corneal Shaper and the Chiron-Technolas Keracor 116 excimer laser. Preoperative spherical equivalent manifest refraction ranged from -4.62 to -12.50 D (mean, -7.87 D) and spectacle-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to 20/100 (median, 20/50). All patients completed a minimum follow-up of 12 months. RESULTS: One year after LASIK, spherical equivalent manifest refraction ranged from 0 to -1.50 D (mean, -0.55 D). Spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved in all eyes (range, 20/20 to 20/40; median, 20/25). Six eyes (42.9%) had a postoperative spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/20. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 10 eyes (71.4%) (range, 20/20 to 20/70; median, 20/30). Uncorrected visual acuity exceeded preoperative spectacle-corrected visual acuity in all eyes by an average of 2 lines. There were no significant complications. CONCLUSION: LASIK was effective for correction of myopic anisometropia in this small group of children and reversed refractive amblyopia. LASIK in these children was safe, predictable, and provided good visual results.     

The incidence of urethral stricture and bladder neck contracture with transurethral resection vs. holmium laser enucleation of prostate: A matched,dual-center study

IntroductionUrethral strictures (US) and bladder neck contracture (BNC) are common, long-term complications of transurethral prostate surgery. We aimed to compare transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) regarding incidence of US or BNC and identify possible risk factors.MethodsA retrospective review of patients who underwent TURP and HoLEP with followup data of at least one year in two separate institutions was performed. The incidence of postoperative US or BNC in both groups was compared. Bivariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors in both cohorts with US or BNC were performed.ResultsThe study included 208 patients: 101 and 107 patients in the TURP and HoLEP arms, respectively. The two groups were matched for age and prostate size. Eight (7.92%) and five (4.72%) patients in the TURP and HoLEP arms, respectively, developed US (p=0.3423), while two (1.87%) patients in the HoLEP arm had BNC (p=0.2634). Of the eight patients with the US in the TURP arm, six (9.8%) had bipolar TURP, while two (5%) had monopolar TURP. Multivariate analysis showed that larger prostate volume (hazard ratio [HR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05, 1.41, p=0.0066) and longer operative time (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.76, 1.93, p=0.0015) were associated with risk of US/BNC.ConclusionsThere is no significant difference between TURP and HoLEP regarding incidence of US or BNC, although there is a tendency towards a higher rate of US associated with bipolar TURP. Increased prostate volume and operative time are possible risk factors.

KEY MESSAGES

• We compared TURP and HoLEP regarding their incidence of US or BNC with matching patients for age and prostate volume and identified possible risk factors.
• The US incidence was comparable, although the incidence within the TURP arm was higher with bipolar than monopolar TURP.
• The BNC incidence was 1.87% in the HoLEP arm, while none of the patients in the TURP arm developed BNC (statistically insignificant).
• Multivariate analysis showed that larger prostate volume and longer operative time were associated with higher risk of US/BNC.

     

Aramid-wrapped CNT hybrid sol–gel sorbent for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

This work describes the preparation of an analytical microextraction sorbent using a simple and versatile sol–gel hybrid composite, i.e., aramid oligomers wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covalently bonded to a porous silica network. To overcome the inherent shortcomings of the CNTs'' solubility and dispersion in both organic phases and in the sol–gel solution, the outer surface of the CNTs was initially functionalized with carboxylic acid groups and then reacted with both aramid oligomers and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). The obtained sorbent was characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Using sol–gel chemistry, the functionalized CNTs were coated onto SPME fibers and used in conjunction with GC-MS for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and soil samples. Excellent repeatability (run-to-run RSD% ∼ 8) and reproducibility (fiber-to-fiber RSD% ∼ 6) were achieved in addition to low LODs (0.10–0.30 ng mL⁻¹) and noticeable recovery%. The present method of sorbent preparation led to enhanced thermal and chemical stabilities, a long sorbent lifetime and good affinity towards PAHs. Moreover, the present sorbent enhanced the extraction capability by more than 30% compared to that of commercially available PDMS counterparts.

This work describes the preparation of an analytical microextraction sorbent using a simple and versatile sol–gel hybrid composite, i.e., aramid oligomers wrapping multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covalently bonded to a porous silica network.